The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Hi, i got informed that there is a pre production 806 at a dealer in Amsterdam. Not my cuppa tea, but wanted to hear the forums collective knowledge if this is really special and why?

The dial seems to be in rough condition, it looks like the lugs have been run over with a polish cloth, and the hands might have been painted white (originally they was matte silver plated).

But honestly, the pictures are not in a quality to call anything for sure.

You can find all the information you want in this thread http://breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=62354

Kurt B http://www.kurt-b.com

Ok thanks that is very helpful. I am still figuring out how to get proper pics on the board.

https://amsterdamvintagewatches.com/pro ... aljoux-72/









sometimes posting the link to the actual watch is a lot easier than trying to post or link to just the pics

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

my opinion:

the chrono sweep is a replacement as its too long (goes past the indices on the dial)
as Kurt stated , hands have probably been repainted
I think hands have been relumed as well at some point in time (may have been a long time ago)
I cant see the case well enough to comment on the originality of the case finish , would have to have it 'in hand'

are these pre-806's w/ valjoux movements special ?

Yes !

so far less than a few handful's have surfaced (maybe 25-30 total) these were the 1st executions in a long line of successors
They were produced in a small number , only in 1954 & 1955

_________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

Ok thanks very much for that, I am still figuring out what is allowed in posting, although i read through the rules and the faq's I was not sure if I could show the weblink to a shop.


So if I understand it correctly these were made to be sold, I was under the impression that they were pre productions or prototypes?

No, made to be sold but the earliest ones did not have the model designation on the caseback.

Ok got it, hence the pre 806 name, thanks.

my hypothesis , and others may or may not agree with this, is :

the Navitimer was a watch that was commissioned by the AOPA and made by Breitling for the AOPA . Only after this watch became a huge success at the AOPA , Breitling started to make these themselves and started to sell them as well in 1956 with reference 806 . The AOPA watches all have the AOPA signed wing , the Breitling watches do not have AOPA in the wing but Breitling signed dials. Hence why the very early ones do not have a reference number either as technically it wasnt a Breitling watch (not a watch produced to be sold in the Breitling line-up = no reference number)

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"I spent most of my money on Booze, Breitling and Boats. The rest I wasted" - mostly Elmore Leonard

I agree on your call on the Chrono sweep hand, definitely not correct, the tale is also a tiny bit longer, and slightly different shaped.


IMO they are not as rare as we would like them to be.

I Just checked my records, and I'll estimate that I have seen 60-80 them (pre 806 & 806).

My best guess is that Breitling produced a considerable amount of Val's in 54 & 55, sold then up through the late 50's, at the same time they produced Venus 178 ones in limited amounts, and then started to produce big time again in app 1960, when they became short of them.

The Valjoux 72 AOPA Navitimer are nevertheless the holy grail of Navitimers, though there a ones that are much rarer. I think we have to give the Valjoux 72 mvt a lot of the credit for their "holy" status.
Let alone - yes, they was the first Navitimers ever produced, but the movement is probably as iconic as the watch itself, and more or less all vintage watches using the Valjoux 72 movement are in high demand among watch collectors.


Kurt B http://www.kurt-b.com